Night to forget for Golds as they crash from RUR Cup

The long trip reaped no rewards for Suter’s side, who were missing Dean Fuller, Ross McKay and Adam Goff, all of whom were unable to travel, and goals from James Taylor (two) and debutant Nathan Harding secured Sidley a spot in the third round.

It looked as though it was going to be a long night for Golds when Taylor blasted the opener past James Askew within the first minute.

Littlehampton’s Peter Beadle then headed onto the bar after Barney Boutwood’s free kick.

It was, however, a fairly subdued first half, so Suter told his men at the break it was theirs for the taking if they wanted it.

He said: “We were below par in the first half, the passing wasn’t good and the energy levels were low.

“If we were playing in France, I would have said we we looked jet-lagged.

“I thought, though, that if we could pick up we could go on and win it.”

But Golds failed to improve after the break and with Sidley’s first attack their debutant Harding carved out the second on the wing. He whipped a ball in for Taylor to nod home on 56 minutes.

Harding then effectively ended the game six minutes later as he jinked into the box and lobbed into the top corner.

Golds huffed and puffed after this but never really asked any questions of the Sidley defence.

Suter said: “It was a long midweek journey all for nothing, really.

“It was a disappointing night as we would have had Rustington or East Preston in the next round, which would have been a nice local derby.

“Niall O’Hagan had a good game, firstly at centre-half and then in the midfield, but no one else really stood out. The saving grace was it was a cup game and not league points. It’s disappointing, though, as we’ve been on a nice run and for that to come to an end is a shame.”

LITTLEHAMPTON: Askew; Tabor, O’Hagan, Hazel, Wollers; Beadle, Peacock, Hellen, Gaskin; Boutwood, Jarvis. Subs: Collender (Beadle 60), White (Boutwood 70), Janman.